1. to 11. March

We decided to drive to the Snowy Mountains and hopefully could try some 4WD tracks. Our first night was spent in the southern part which was already a gravel road up and down the mountains. Some years ago there was a big bushfire and you could still see where it went through. It should have been so huge that it created its own thunderstorms which started further fires. But as the forests are used and need some bushfires it started to recover. We camped close to the road and a creek with possums as closed neighbours.

The next day we drove the Alpine Way through the middle of Kosciuszko National Park. We didn’t stop on our way as it was rainy and you couldn’t see for more than 100m. There are several camp areas along the way but you would have to pay the day fee for the National Park so we decided to go further north where you could camp for free and no day fee. This night was our first night we slept in the car due to the rain and no possibility to pitch the tent.

  Hopefully more luck with the weather on the next morning – but it was still rainy, foggy or the clouds were sitting so low that we’re in the middle of it. We decided to go to the Yarrangobilly Caves and enjoy their thermal pool (it should be 26degrees warm). We headed straight to the pool and jumped in but I’m not sure if it was 26degrees or colder. Anyway it was good – you could even do some laps or get a little massage in the second pool.

Then we went through the self-guided cave which is around 500m long and quite chilly. You could see several formations (stalagmites, stalactites or flowstone). The cave is still active- several drops were coming onto our heads. It is around 50m high and the experts are certain that this area will collapse one day. The best surprise was actually when we left the cave – the sun was out and it was warm. So we drove to the next camp area and pitched our tent before it started to rain again.

Of course it rained during the night and we had to dry our tent the next morning. Luckily the picnic shelters at the caves are roofed and offered electricity. I had a look at another cave which shows more formations and narrower. The earliest tours took place at around 1910 and they even build some formations into the cave. Unfortunately we had to return the same way we entered – the alternative exit was closed. Finally we pitched our tent under a bridge as it started to rain again…

Cheers, Tom and Anja